MACR PILOT: 1Lt Glen S. Van Noy O-728773
MACR #: 00682
Fiche #: 00225
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 349th BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: Regansburg
Intended Destination: North Africa
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: August 17, 1943
Time: 10:00
Location: Near Brenner Pass
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-58681
B: 41-42083
C: 42-81303
D: 43-55939
Weapons
A: 458252
B: 458110
C: 458426
D: 458297
E: 492630
F: 458219
G: 458294
H: 458440
I: 458394
J: 458124
L: 488298
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 10
Pass: 0
Total: 10
Personnel
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| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | |||
| P2 | Glen S. Van Noy | 1Lt | O-728773 |
| CP | James B. Evans | 2Lt | O-797980 |
| NAV (N) | Kenneth G. Allen | 1Lt | O-728153 |
| BOM (B) | William H. Couch | 2Lt | O-731363 |
| RAD | James D. Gibson | SSgt | 37196371 |
| ENG | William R. Stewart | TSgt | 35257322 |
| BAL | Joe F. Hruskocy | SSgt | 35358965 |
| WG (W) | William L. Kennedy | Col | O-17936 |
| WG (W) | William W. Crabb | TSgt | 16008676 |
| TG (T) | Samuel J. Cusmano | SSgt | 36156708 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owen D. Roane | Last sighted | F/O | T-120216 |
| John R. Justice | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-735390 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Unknown
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| An eyewitness (either Owen D. Roane or John R Justice) gave following report: B-17 #042 was seen to be in trouble a few minutes before target No 4 engine was flaming, but it continued in formation, dropped its bombs on the target and did not pull away until it reached the Alps near Munich At this place #2 engine was feathered and A/C pulled away and disappeared around the side of a mountain. It was flying at about 10,000 feet when last seen and was being pursued by a JU 88 No chutes were seen. | ||
| . | According to Bill Crabb they lost one engine (fighter attack) just after crossing enemy Coast early in mission and a second at the target. Realized they probably could not reach Africa but at no time did they consider Switzerland Ran out of Ammo although he had 1100 rounds for one gun and 900 for the other (ball turret because he fit better that Hruskocy, the regular BTG man) Bill Couch had size 13 shoes or bigger. Was in stocking feet when picked up and Germans said they had no shoes in Italy big enough for him Of Col Kennedy, Crabb Says," He was due to return stateside to help train aerial gunners And was along for 1st hand experience " "He kept squeezing off one round at a time and I remember thinking, My God! a short burst is one thing but this is ridiculous." Had one bomb hang up over target and tried to release it over a small Airfield near Brenner pass but it wouldn't go. Later released it manually over Mediterranean. Dropped to 500 ft and threw out everything not nailed down "even my GI shoes" Just north of Naples turned for Sicily because at briefing had been told Sicily would fall that day It did. About 90 miles from Sicily lost a third engine Van Noy shut down remaining engine and made the most beautiful landing he ever made. "He never could land an Airplane except when it really counted." Ship floated about an hour and a half. Picked up next morning by Germans in a flying boat. Cusmano reported: Got out 2 five man dinghies and a smaller one -lots of rations, radio, etc. Raised radio mast with balloon and sent S O S Only mission on which 42-30042 reached target was this one It had had 7/8 Abortions . Original ship (42-30002) was named "Damn IF I Know" and was having PFF installed. Was in POW Camp 17B Krems, Austria with many other 100th Gp men. George P Gineikis went down on 5 Nov.1943 - mission to Gelsenkirchen and it is believed he was an evadee. Cusmano later visited him in Vets Hosp. in Battle Creek Later heard he had been discharged with a disability pension. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: CLAUDE L. HOSFORD 1st Lt Air Corps Personnel Officer
Date prepared: September 5, 1943
